Fraudsters are cold-calling victims, falsely stating that they are calling from one of the well-known UK telecommunication service providers. They call victims claiming to provide a 'Telephone Preference Service' - an enhanced call-barring service, which includes barring international call centres.

The fraudsters ask victims to confirm/provide their bank account details, informing them that there is a one-off charge for the service. Victims instead see monthly debits deducted from their accounts, which they have not authorised. The fraudsters often target elderly victims.

In all instances, direct debits are set up without following proper procedure. The victim is not sent written confirmation of the direct debit instruction, which is supposed to be sent within three days.

On occasions when victims attempted to call back, the telephone number provided by the fraudster was either unable to be reached or the victim's direct debit cancellation request was refused.

During 2017, there were 493 Action Fraud Reports relating to this fraud.

Protect yourself:

There is only one Telephone Preference Service (TPS). The TPS is the only official UK 'do-not-call' register for opting out of live telesales calls. It is FREE to sign-up to the register. TPS never charge for registration. You can register for this service at http://www.tpsonline.org.uk.

You will receive postal confirmation of genuine direct debits. If you notice unauthorised payments leaving your account, you should contact your bank promptly.

Always be wary of providing personal information, or confirming that personal information the caller already claims to hold is correct. Always be certain that you know who you talking to. If in doubt hang up immediately.

If you have been affected by this, or any other type of fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

With the success of last years cultural event, Involves 2018 Cultural festival has been set up with the same goal in mind: to bring people together! Come along to learn about the wide range of ethnicities and cultures that exist and grow in your local community and enjoy new experiences and different ways of life.

The alert will be in place from 4pm on Saturday 17 March until 9am on Sunday 18 March.

This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.

This means that temperatures are likely to drop to levels that increase the risk of ill health among vulnerable adults, particularly older people, those with long term conditions and those living in cold homes.

Age UK has produced the some guidance so if you are working with elderly or vulnerable people or have elderly or vulnerable relatives.

Make sure that you stay warm. If going outside make sure you dress appropriately. If indoors, make sure that you keep your heating to the right temperature; heating your home to at least 18°C in winter poses minimal risk to your health when you are wearing suitable clothing .

If there is anyone you know who might be at special risk, for example, an older person living on their own, make sure they know what to do to stay warm and are well stocked with food and medications. If you are worried about your health or that of somebody you know, ring NHS 111.

More information is available on the winter health pages at NHS Choices.

What is Hate Crime?Hate crimes are any crimes that are targeted at a person because of hostility or prejudice towards that person's:

disability

race or ethnicity

religion or belief

sexual orientation

transgender identity

It is defined by the Criminal Justice system as:

'Any crime or incident which is perceived by the victim, or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice, based on a person's real or presumed religion, sexual orientation, race, gender identity or disability'

It might be that someone has shouted names at you, taken money from you or told them to buy you things when you didn't want to, it might also be that someone has physically hurt you or damaged your property.

Someone doesn't have to hate you to commit these crimes against you, they may only dislike the fact you are disabled or gay for example. This might be difficult to prove and you may try to ignore it but it is really important that you let someone know if you think you are being targeted.

What is a Hate Incident?Hate Incidents can feel like crimes to those who suffer them and often escalate to crimes or tension in a community. For this reason the police are concerned about incidents and you can report non-crime hate incidents. The police can only prosecute when the law is broken but can work with partners to try and prevent any escalation in seriousness.

Why should I report hate crime?Hate crimes and incidents hurt; they can be confusing and frightening.

By reporting them when they happen to you, you may be able to prevent these incidents from happening to someone else. You will also help the police understand the extent of hate crime in your local area so they can better respond to it.

Reporting Hate Crimes and IncidentsPlease report any form of hate crime or hate based incidents to Thames Valley Police.

This can be done in a number of ways:

999 if an ongoing emergency (It's an emergency when a crime is being committed, there's a risk of injury, or there's a risk of serious damage to property)

In the above circumstances, we would urge you to call 999 and the police will respond immediately.

How else can I report a hate crime?Hate Crime Network

You can report hate crime to the Network by: Phone: 0300 1234 148, App: You can also download their app to find out more about hate crime and to report it when and where it happens. The app 'TVHCNetwork' is available to download to Apple, HTML and Android phones.

Stop Hate UK is a charity that provides independent and confidential support to people affected by Hate Crime. They provide confidential Hate Crime reporting services in various areas of the UK, including a 24 hour helpline. 0800 138 1625 - 24 hour helpline 07717 989 025 - Text, Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Report Online Terrorism:

The internet is used by some people to promote terrorism and extremism. You can challenge and report terrorist and extremist content you find online, which you feel is offensive, or illegal. For more information about what makes online content illegal and how to report it, please visit www.direct.gov.uk/reportingonlineterrorism